How to Become a Medical Lab Assistant: Step-by-Step Roadmap (Skills, Externships, Exams & Career Outlook)

• Medical lab assistants play a vital support role by collecting, processing, and organizing patient samples for testing.
• You can enter the field relatively quickly, often with a high school diploma plus optional training or certification.
• Hands-on skills and certifications matter, especially credentials like the CMLA and CPT, which can improve job prospects and pay.
• Training programs typically include real-world experience, such as externships with at least 120 clinical hours.
• The field is growing fast, with strong job outlook (16% growth) and entry-level salaries averaging around $45,000.

Medical lab assistants collect and process samples for laboratory testing, support technicians during testing, help with quality control, inventory, instrument maintenance, and can help with basic analysis. Some of the common responsibilities of an MLA include

• Ordering and processing lab samples
• Running basic tests manually or on instruments
• Preparing slides and staining them for analysis
• Drawing blood (phlebotomy)
• Recording and organizing test results
• Keeping the lab clean and ready to go
• Restocking supplies and managing inventory

Medical lab assistants can work in a few different places, including

• Hospitals
• Public Laboratories
• Urgent care centers
• Doctor’s offices
• Outpatient care offices

Read more: Which Healthcare Certifications Pay the Most? A Guide to Higher-Earning Medical Jobs Through Certification

Step-by-step medical lab assistant career roadmap

Becoming a medical lab assistant takes more than just applying for the job – you'll need to follow a few steps to get the skills and credentials you need to qualify for the role.

Step 1: Educational foundation

At minimum, you need to have a high school diploma or GED to qualify for a medical lab assistant job. If you’re still in high school right now and know you want to work in some kind of healthcare job after graduation, it’s a good idea to focus on biology, chemistry, and math courses now.

While you don’t need more than a high school diploma, getting some further education and training under your belt could make your job search and early career in the field a little bit easier. It can also help you prepare to take certification exams, which many employers really like to see.

“It’s always best to be certified in your field,” Rebecca Testa, Medical Lab Assistant Instructor at Penn Foster said. “It gives you leverage when negotiating your salary and separates your work duties. You can be hired without it and given on-the-job training, but most laboratories prefer someone who's been certified.”

For something like this, you don’t have to dedicate years of your life to a college degree; generally, a career diploma or certificate program can be a great first step into the field.

Step 2: Essential skills to master

As part of your training, whether through a medical lab assistant training program or on-the-job training, you’ll want to master a few skills to be successful.

• Technical lab skills: specimen collection/handling, venipuncture & phlebotomy, lab safety, equipment use. Ability to follow Standard Operating Procedures and Organizational Skills.
• Soft skills: communication, teamwork, proper documentation, and attention to detail. Multitasking and critical thinking
• Clinical protocols: infection control, quality control processes, HIPPA, Communication in the Medical Field and Patient Safety

While technical and clinical skills are important, soft skills can be just as vital to building a strong career in the lab. “A lab career is heavily focused on quick and precise work,” Rebecca mentioned. “You need strong multitasking and communication skills because you are usually in a team environment, and everyone needs to know what’s going on.”

Step 3: Program selection and curriculum

When you’re researching medical lab assistant programs, you want to make sure to find one that covers the knowledge and skills you’ll need for the job and can help you really prepare for the certification exams that can help you in your career.

Ideally, the right MLA program should cover classes like

• Anatomy and Physiology
• Infection control
• Phlebotomy
• HIPPA
• Patient Safety
• Basic Lab Testing Skills
• Communication in the Medical Field

You’ll also want to make sure the program you enroll in covers some key career readiness skills like venipuncture and lab procedures.

When you’re searching for the right program, don’t limit yourself to just in-person schools; it’s absolutely possible to learn these skills in an online program. When you’re looking at online medical lab assistant classes, check out whether they include things like hands-on kits, simulations, and externships.

Read more: The Busy Mom's Guide to Going Back to School

Step 4: Externships and clinical hours (real world training)

As part of a good medical lab assistant training program, you’ll likely be expected to complete an externship, or clinical hours. Generally, you need to do a minimum of 120 clinical hours for an MLA program.

An externship is an important part of your education as a medical lab assistant because it gives you the opportunity to apply what you learned to real-world situations and get hands-on practice. Besides that, it also gives you the chance to network with others in the field and really see what it’s like to work as a medical lab assistant!

During your externship, you’ll practice skills like collecting and processing patient samples for testing, preparing lab equipment, completing appropriate documentation, and more, all under the supervision of an experienced professional.

Step 5: Certification eligibility and exams

Getting certified as a medical lab assistant can help you stand out when you’re applying for jobs. In fact, according to the 2025 NHA Industry Outlook Report, 85% of employers said that they would be more likely to hire someone with recognized certifications versus someone without. It can also impact how much you earn. 70% of healthcare employers pay more when employees earn credentials.

As a medical lab assistant, the most common and recognized credential you’ll want to pursue is the Certified Medical Laboratory Assistant (CMLA) exam offered through the American Medical Technologists (AMT). There are three ways to be eligible to take this exam:

1. Education. You can be eligible to take the CMLA exam if you graduated or will graduate from an academic program that covers at least 320 clock hours, with a minimum of 120 of those hours being clinical lab experience.

Required documents:

• A completed competency checklist
• A final, official transcript from your school showing you graduated

2. Work experience. If you don’t meet the education requirements, relevant work experience could make you eligible for the exam. To be eligible for the CMLA exam, you’d need to have completed a minimum of 1,040 work hours (about 6 months) in the past three years in which laboratory technology was a major component.

Required documents:

• A copy of your high school diploma or GED
• The employment verification form documenting 6 months of clinical lab experience

3. Instructor experience. You could also meet eligibility requirements if you’re an instructor for an approved allied health course. You should currently be teaching in an approved allied health program that includes clinical lab skills, have completed relevant healthcare training, and bring at least three years of experience teaching key lab assistant competencies.

Required documents:

• The employment verification form documenting at least three years teaching a program covering core clinical lab competencies at the lab assistant level
• A copy of your transcripts showing completion of a course in healthcare related to or including clinical lab practices
• A course syllabus describing the course content and length of the class you teach

Besides the CMLA, it doesn’t hurt to pursue additional credentials such as the Certified Phlebotomy Technician (CPT) from NHA (National Healthcareer Association).

Step 6: CMLA exam prep and pass rates

Some of the best ways to prep for the CMLA exam include:

• Reviewing the AMT Candidate Handbook to understand the policies and procedures around testing.
• Reviewing the CMLA Competencies and Examination Specifications document to understand what to expect for the test and what you should study for.
• Refresh key clinical lab skills like specimen collection, handling, processing, and safety procedures.
• Use a reputable CMLA study guide or textbook to reinforce core concepts.
• Take practice exams to get comfortable with the question format and timing.
• Focus on weak areas by revisiting notes or watching targeted tutorials.
• Study medical terminology, basic anatomy, and common lab tests.
• Create a study schedule and stick to it instead of cramming last minute.
• Use flashcards for quick review of important terms and procedures.
• Make sure you understand lab safety standards, infection control, and quality assurance practices.

Take as much time as you need to prepare for the exam even before registering for it! Certification exams are never easy, so you want to be able to go into it with confidence. As of 2023, the most recent available data from AMT, the first-time pass rate for the CMLA exam is 66%, which means it can be a bit tough. But with the right prep, you can do it!

Once you’ve successfully passed the exam, you can consider yourself a Certified Medical Lab Assistant.

Read more: 6 Tips for Going Back to College or Career School as an Adult

How long does it take to become a medical lab assistant?

The time it takes to become a medical lab assistant can depend on what path you take to get there.

If you decide to apply to jobs in the field with just a high school diploma or GED, which is the minimum requirement most employers are looking for, the time it takes to get the job can depend on what jobs are available in your area, how long it takes you to get interviews, and how long it takes you to get hired. Most places will eventually require you to sit for certification to remain employed.

If you want to get training first, the time it takes can depend on where you enroll, how much time you dedicate to it, and other factors. However, in general, you’re probably looking at about a year total of studying and externship time. Remember, AMT requires at least 320 clock hours of combined study and externship hours to be eligible to sit for the CMLA exam.

MLA career outcomes, salary, and job outlook

Salary: The salary for a new medical lab assistant can range between $38,000 - $52,000 per year, though the average as of April 2026 is around $45,000, according to Glassdoor. And, as you gain experience and credentials, you have the potential to move up and earn more.

Where you work: When you start out as a medical lab assistant, you can work in a few different settings, from hospitals to outside medical labs. Some examples that are familiar nationwide could include labs like LabCorp or Quest Diagnostics.

Job outlook: Medical lab assistant job growth is at 16% as of April 2026, which means that there’s a need for qualified, skilled lab assistants out there, making it potentially easier to find a job in that field than others that don’t have as a high a rate of predicted job growth.

Career advancement: There’s definitely room to grow once you start a medical lab assistant career. If you know you’ll eventually want to move up, here’s an example of the advancement ladder for a medical lab assistant!

• Entry role: Medical lab assistant, phlebotomist, LPN. You’ll need at least a high school diploma or equivalent. Training and certification is a plus.
• Intermediate role: After you’ve gotten a few years experience as a medical lab assistant, your next step up the ladder might be as a senior lab assistant or even a medical lab technician. For a senior assistant role, you don’t necessarily need more education, just experience. For a lab technician role, your employer may want you to get an associate degree first to qualify for the promotion.
• Advanced role: After you’ve been working in the industry for a long time, you may be ready for more of a leadership role. In that case, you’ll likely be considering jobs like lab supervisor or manager, or lead lab technician. Generally, you’ll need both experience and a higher degree to qualify for the promotion. If you don’t necessarily want to manage a team, you could also consider moving up to become a medical lab scientist. For this role, you’ll need at least a bachelor’s degree and potentially have to complete further clinical training.

Besides advancing within a lab or lab-specific roles, it’s possible to take your career into other directions in healthcare.

“A Certified Medical Lab Assistant (CMLA) is exposed to many other healthcare professions through their daily work,” Rebecca explained. “They can advance their careers in the laboratory or enter other healthcare fields with their medical background and experience!”

Read more: 10 Alternatives to College

What to know about Penn Foster’s online MLA program

Penn Foster’s Medical Lab Assistant Career Diploma can be a great option to learn the skills and knowledge that can help you start a new career in healthcare. This fully online program is designed with flexibility in mind, making it easier to learn on your schedule—whether you’re working full-time, raising a family, or balancing both. Instead of rushing through rigid deadlines, you can move at a pace that works for you while building the skills needed for an entry-level role in a medical laboratory. You’ll have a full year to complete your program requirements, but if you have more time to dedicate yourself to studying, you can potentially finish earlier!

But it’s not just about convenience! The program blends foundational knowledge with practical experience, so you’re not just learning, you’re preparing to do the job. From understanding lab procedures and medical terminology to practicing blood draw techniques with a simulation kit, you’ll get a feel for what working in a clinical setting is really like. Plus, a 120-hour externship gives you the opportunity to apply what you’ve learned in a real-world environment.

Along the way, you’ll be preparing for industry-recognized certifications like the Certified Medical Laboratory Assistant (CMLA) and Certified Phlebotomy Technician (CPT), which can help boost your confidence—and your resume—when you’re ready to start job searching.

Learn more: Full Online Medical Lab Assistant Curriculum

Prepare for a new career in healthcare today

If becoming a medical lab assistant sounds like the right career move for you, you don’t have to wait to get started! With Penn Foster, you can enroll and start your first class whenever you’re ready – no applications or deadlines. You can enroll online 24/7 or, if you have questions or would like help enrolling, you can reach out to our Admissions Specialists at 1-800-523-0577!